1936–37 Port Vale F.C. season

The 1936–37 season was Port Vale's 31st season of football in the English Football League and their first season (second overall) back in the Third Division North following their relegation from the Second Division.^[1] Under newly appointed manager Warney Cresswell, Vale aimed to bounce back at the first attempt, but ultimately finished 11th in the Third Division North with 44 points, well short of promotion contention.

Vale's campaign had its ups and downs — most notably a mid-season unbeaten league run of 13 games between late October and early January, which rallied them near the promotion places before form tapered off in the final third of the season. Their league season peaked with emphatic wins including 5–1 over Mansfield Town, 4–0 over Chester (their largest attendance at home, 12,950), and another 4–0 victory vs. Chester earlier in December.

Leading the attack was Tommy Ward, the club's top scorer with 18 goals in all competitions (14 in the league), delivering a reliable goals return in turbulent times. In the FA Cup, Vale were knocked out in the Third Round — a modest cup run that ended without fanfare. Off the pitch, Warney Cresswell implemented modern training methods — as described in contemporary accounts — including rigorous fitness routines and team bonding activities, as well as making several targeted signings. The integrated strategy helped Vale briefly challenge near the top—but consistency proved elusive, and Cresswell departed at season's end.

During the pre-season build-up, former England international full-back Warney Cresswell was appointed as manager-coach, filling a position which had remained vacant since September 1936.^[1] Described as 'a very knowledgeable man about football', he increased the playing staff to twenty, signing winger Gerry Kelly (Chester); right-half Tommy Ward (Grimsby Town); and left-half Spencer Evans (Altrincham).^[1] Cresswell also began running the players and pushing them in the gym, to get them fit for the season.^[1] In between heavy training sessions, he encouraged the players to relax with snooker and billiards competitions.^[1] The club also decided to introduce a new strip of white shirts and black shorts, a look they retain to this day.^[1]

The season opened with two defeats, as Vale found it tough to acclimatize to third-tier football, their 3–1 home defeat to Hull City came despite them doing the double over the "Tigers" the previous season.^[1] Following this, George Stabb transferred to Bradford Park Avenue, in a deal which saw Tom Nolan return to the Old Recreation Ground.^[1] Nolan scored on his second debut on 12 September, a 2–2 draw at home to Darlington. Two days later, Vale fell to a 5–1 defeat at Oldham Athletic. Continuing their poor form, by the end of September, they had fallen to seventh from bottom.^[1] This prompted Cresswell to sign inside-forward Alfred Dickinson from Everton.^[1] On 26 September, Nolan scored a hat-trick past Stockport County. Still, the Vale would have to wait a little longer before getting into their stride.^[1] Their poor form concluded with a 5–2 defeat at Carlisle United on 17 October, which was in part due to Arthur Caldwell leaving the game injured.^[1]

Seven changes were made for the 24 October win over Hartlepools United, and the wait would be worth it, as Vale then went on a 13-game unbeaten run.^[1] Nevertheless, Cresswell continued to travel the country in the hunt for talented young amateurs.^[1] By the end of October the 40,000 Shilling Fund completed its mission.^[1] Michael Curley and George Heywood were judged as surplus to requirements, and moved on to Colwyn Bay and Southport respectively.^[1] Fred Obrey also proved to be a revelation in the centre of the pitch.^[1] On 21 November, Vale beat Mansfield Town by five goals to one. They held league leaders Chester to a goalless draw seven days later. Vale beat Chester by four clear goals in the return fixture, with Ward claiming a hat-trick. Hull City scored a late equaliser to deny Vale a 1–0 win on Boxing Day. On 2 January, Vale won 4–2 at home to Gateshead to move up to fourth in the table. Vale lost their unbeaten run – 1–0 at struggling Darlington's Feethams.^[1]

The Vale were then in indifferent form for the remainder of the season, as their promotion hopes petered away.^[1] These hopes were extinguished with three successive defeats starting from 27 February. On 27 March, a heavy 7–1 defeat was recorded to Mansfield Town at Field Mill.^[1] Cresswell's contract was cancelled by mutual consent, and he quickly took up the management reins at Third Division South side Northampton Town.^[1]

They finished in eleventh position with 44 points.^[1] They were 16 points short of promotion and twelve points clear of the re-election zones. With 58 goals scored, they had the third weakest attack in the division and had almost half the tally of runners-up Lincoln City.^[1]

On the financial side, a profit of £401 was made, though £1,923 of income came through the Shilling Fund.^[1] Gate receipts had tailed off by another £1,065, whilst the wage bill was trimmed to £5,656 and a transfer credit of £465 was made.^[1] 14 players departed at the season's end, including: Ken Gunn (sold to Creswell's Northampton Town); Eric Hayward (sold to Blackpool); goalkeeper Allan Todd (refused terms and was transferred to Nottingham Forest); 14-year club veteran Roger Jones (retirement); and Gerry Kelly (signed with Southampton).^[1] The club also petitioned the Football League for a switch to the Third Division South, where gates were believed to be higher, however, the League replied that circumstance and not applications determined where clubs were placed – despite this Mansfield Town were the ones transferred, Mansfield being a town some 40 miles (64 km) north of Stoke-on-Trent.^[1]

In the FA Cup, they fell in the third round to First Division Sheffield Wednesday with a 2–0 defeat at Hillsborough, having been forced to play six reserves due to injury.^[1] In the short-lived Football League Third Division North Cup, the club progressed to the semi-finals with victories over Mansfield Town (2–0), Stockport County (4–0), and Rotherham United (1–0); where they lost 3–0 to Chester.^[1] Attendances of around 100 exemplified the lack of interest in the competition.^[1]

Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; FB – Full back; HB – Half back; FW – Forward

Specific

General

• Kent, Jeff (1993). The Port Vale Record 1879-1993. Witan Books. ISBN 978-0-9508981-9-3.